Author Topic: Whining fuel pump? (Read 15409 times)

pr · « **on:** July 24, 2016, 20:01:48 »

Hi all

Not sure to open a new topic, as it is a bit similar to an old issue.
While on a (kind of) long trip to Netherlands and Belgium 2 weeks ago, I noticed sometimes at high RPMs a slight loss of power. It was not always as prominent, but slowly getting worse. I put on about 2000 miles since I last had an issue. 90% of the time I put Shell's V-power in the tank, which should have some gunk-fighting additives.

Then, waiting for the ferry back with the engine idling, I noticed a high pitched whine coming from the fuel pump area (the tank seemed to resonate with the sound). It was just loud enough to hear it through my helmet and earplugs and constantly pressure. The, back in UK on the motorway I was trying to overtake some cars and tried to accelerate in top gear from about 80-85 to 90-95 and it took ages to accelerate. I had some luggage, but there was no more than 120kg of meat and clothes on top of the bike. Then last week I tried to rev the bike a bit in 3rd-6th gear and did notice coughs/stutters above 6-7K rpms. It's just not as smooth as before.

How do your Wees accelerate at these speeds?
And how much noise does your fuel pump make when idling?
Could it be the high pressure fuel filter that's clogged? Or perhaps more, because of that whine?
I haven't tested the fuel pressure/flow.

Any thoughts?

Cheers
Paul

greywolf · « **Reply #1 on:** July 24, 2016, 21:11:16 »

Excess noise and sluggish performance at high rpms are both indicative of a clogged high pressure fuel filter. Here are some threads on testing and a less costly repair than replacing the stock filter.

http://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php/topic,3981.msg49535.html#msg49535
http://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php/topic,6105.0.html

kwackboy · « **Reply #2 on:** July 24, 2016, 21:21:25 »

Sounds like similar symptoms to Rat Rat's issues a while ago . Although I'd had fuel pump issues that had different symptoms to yours .
I did tests which resulted in a pump and filter change and now all is well .

Testing will give you a better idea ..

Fat Rat · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2016, 21:25:37 »

That High Pressure Filter was brand new as was the Pump a few months ago

pr · « **Reply #4 on:** July 25, 2016, 19:25:17 »

Exactly, so I was wondering what else it could be.
Is it possible there was a little bit old stuff in the tank that got moved down?

greywolf · « **Reply #5 on:** July 25, 2016, 20:15:52 »

Do the flow test to be sure. It isn't that difficult.

Fat Rat · « **Reply #6 on:** July 25, 2016, 20:58:49 »

+1 flow test

pr · « **Reply #7 on:** August 05, 2016, 23:33:45 »

Looks like this Sunday I will have some time. I was thinking of doing this quick test first: http://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php/topic,11603.0.html

Anyone tried that one too?

pr · « **Reply #8 on:** August 06, 2016, 10:50:27 »

That reminds me, I had problem removing one screw. It's the screw that's in the black front part of the fairing: in the middle of that small part underneath the headlights. It's turning, but not unscrewing.
Any tips on how to get it out? I don't want to pull it out.

pr · « **Reply #9 on:** August 06, 2016, 10:53:33 »

Re myself: looking at this video, it's not supposed to be a screw, but one of those plastic pop-things:
So best to carefully pull it out perhaps?

Fat Rat · « **Reply #10 on:** August 06, 2016, 14:26:24 »

It's still a rivet paul, carefully wind out/pull the centre and the whole thing comes out

Fat Rat · « **Reply #11 on:** August 06, 2016, 14:27:25 »

Do you need to remove that to lift the tank?

pr · « **Reply #12 on:** August 06, 2016, 15:34:30 »

With that front bit out it's easier to loosen the sides

greywolf · « **Reply #13 on:** August 06, 2016, 16:36:53 »

Plastic rivets are removed by pushing in the center.

Fat Rat · « **Reply #14 on:** August 06, 2016, 17:01:03 »

He's talking about these Pat.

greywolf · « **Reply #15 on:** August 06, 2016, 17:18:53 »

I've never seen that type of fastener on a V-Strom. Was that changed/added and you have inside information?

Fat Rat · « **Reply #16 on:** August 06, 2016, 17:26:07 »

It's very possible I have a bag of them and it's very possible one or two may have made it onto that particular V-Strom

kwackboy · « **Reply #17 on:** August 06, 2016, 18:17:29 »

Honda tend to have those type fasteners for inner fairing panels , they can be more secure .

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 06, 2016, 22:56:59 »

Yamaha use them too

mr_diver · « **Reply #19 on:** August 06, 2016, 23:33:39 »

Yeah Honda use them and their s###!
Honda's plastic pop rivets are far better than the Suzuki ones for ease of use as you don't need something to push in the centre, but stick out a long way and aren't as flush fitting.

Those plastic screw in ones are on my top 10 list of hated motorbike fasteners... and I have only 2 on the Varadero.
List includes the stroms front mudguard bolts, rear master cylinder mount bolts, chain guard bolts, oil cooler grill screw, header pipe bolts, TPS adjustment bolts. OK there are a few.